Hawaiian island erased by powerful hurricane: 'The loss is a huge blow'

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Guardian


East Island has vanished after coming into contact with Hurricane Walaka, an intense storm that hit Hawaii earlier this month

Oliver Milman in New York
@olliemilman
Wed 24 Oct 2018 07.49 EDT

A piece of the United States has been dramatically wiped off the map after an island in Hawaii was washed away by a powerful hurricane.

East Island, a remote spit of gravel and sand that sat atop a coral reef, has vanished after having this misfortune to come into contact with Hurricane Walaka, an intense storm that surged past Hawaii earlier this month.

Scientists have confirmed the disappearance of the 11-acre island after comparing satellite images of the surrounding French Frigate Shoals, part of an enormous protected marine area in the north-western Hawaiian Islands.

“I uttered a swear word. I had a ‘holy cow!’ moment, somewhat in disbelief that it had disappeared,” said Chip Fletcher, a professor of earth sciences at the University of Hawaii. Fletcher and his colleagues were in the process of researching East Island through drone videos and taking samples of sand and corals to ascertain the age of the island and gauge its future prospects in the face of climate change.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/oct/24/hawaiian-island-erased-by-powerful-hurricane

[mahina]

1. Dear Chip Fletcher. What a drag.

I’ll never go there but I’m sorry it is gone.

[3Hotdogs]

2. Did the seals survive?

[Stuart G]

3. k and r..nt

[Bengus81]

4. 100+ islands in that chain,many have almost been reclaimed

Someday Oahu will suffer the same fate but by then there could be dozens of new islands to the SE

[Nitram]

5. I'm looking forward to the same thing happening in the "South China Sea" where China has

Last edited Thu Oct 25, 2018, 04:13 PM - Edit history (1)

covered coral reefs in sand and concrete to build military bases near the shores of Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia.